Sign up today for Post Pro Picks, The Post's free, weekly NFL pick 'em game, where you can win great prizes, form groups to play against your friends, see how you fare against our experts or just play for fun. Register at http://washingtonpost.com/pro-picks

Clinton Portis has a new attitude this season

A lot has been made about the new attitude surrounding the Redskins this year. But when you look at individual players, perhaps no one has embraced and exemplified the change as much as running back Clinton Portis.

"It's like a family," Portis said of this year's team. "In previous years past, everybody went home, when people left from over here, they went home, it was like, 'I'll see you tomorrow at work.' Compared to now, you can catch numerous groups of guys - five or six guys - out together, having dinner, hanging around, shooting pool, bowling or doing something. I think it's just a team vibe all of a sudden. I think everybody's bought into, 'We tired of losing.'"

While Portis didn't specify by name which players have are subscribing to this new vibe, he made clear later in his availability with the media Thursday that he knows of at least one person who's acting differently. Sitting out the final eight games of last season gave Portis a lot of time to reflect on his place in the organization.

"I think it gave me a chance to go out, take a look in the mirror and realize [what] things my fault, some of the things I was doing wrong and the person I needed to be and what I needed to do to come back and be a part of the organization," he said.

"Honestly I didn't feel like I was doing nothing wrong but telling the truth. But at the same time, I got to the point of, I could've been a better teammate. I could hang around, what's the rush for me to get to work and get out of work. Do the things that everybody else do. Everybody else come out here and workout, they get it done.... Why can't I?"

His new attitude has been noticed by most at Redskins Park. He's slimmed down, engaged in meetings and is among the most excited players to be working under Mike Shanahan. Portis fended off training camp challengers Larry Johnson and Willie Parker and is expected to start and get the bulk of the carries Sunday against the Cowboys. He says he likes Shanahan's approach to practices, which keeps him out of pads and keeps him from taking hits in the days leading up to games.

"I actually was telling somebody the other today, I actually feel younger at this point than I did in a long time," Portis said. "Usually coming out of preseason, you're beat up, two-a-days, your body tired. But coming into this week, I think our whole team feels fresh."

Portis was particularly reflective today. He doesn't mind that the spotlight has focused on guys like Albert Haynesworth, Donovan McNabb and Shanahan in the weeks leading up to the season. And he's not eager force himself to the foreground right now, he says.

"I realize you can't satisfy people and there's no need to continue to try. No matter what you do," Portis said. "If I talk to the media, the headlines going, 'I bash somebody that I shouldn't bash.' If I don't talk to the media then I'm a jerk for not speaking. You can't satisfy people. For myself, I'm content, I'm happy with what I've done over my career. I think my teammates are happy with the things I do and what I bring to the game. That's really all that matters."

His new attitude has been noticed by most at Redskins Park. He's slimmed down, engaged in meetings and is among the most excited players to be working under Mike Shanahan.

By Rick Maese | September 9, 2010; 1:37 PM ET

Shoot, it doesn't take a dummy (see Wade Phillips) to understand why. He's toeing the line cause Shanahan traded his azz the first time, and this time there will be no trade, he'll get cut, and at his age no one will pick him up. So, Shanahan says "jump", Clinton should say "want me to stroke it on the way down?"

StainTeeth, you're a faggit troll. Even if I were going to say that 1) I wouldn't have said it like that, especially without a 'No Homo' disclaimer 2) You're not supposed to say that another man is going to say that, or is sticking anything into your mouth.

The 'heh-heh' sh*t just sealed it for me. You once had a screen name up here but got blasted and bounced, in other words disgraced and sobbed like a b*tch in front of your monitor and keyboard in disbelief. You figured that jerking off and bullying your baby brother wasn't filling the void in your life, so you returned to RI. Armed with a new screen name and posting style.

In the end you can't hide who you are though. A immature trolling pussy who still asks ma'dukes for ice cream truck money and collects pokemon pogs.

LOSER! GET A FU_KING LIFE ALREADY AND QUIT REACHING FOR MY BALLS! YOU ARE AN ALLEGED MALE! YOU CAN NOT EVER HAVE THEM, OKAY?!?!?!

Also, telling someone on a lbog to get a life? From a guy the is probably 5 foot nothing a buck nothing......and the self proclaimed blog "tuff-guy". I'm willing to bet you stand in front of the mirror at night and rehearse your little rants. The you chant "yes, I can; yes, I can"

you flatter yourself when you say i'm a redtards fan. can't stand the redtards or their obnoxious, vacuous, horse-toothed fans. never have and never will, you assw!pe.

make sure you show your loser face on monday, ya hear?!

Posted by: 10peterbilt

You know, it's actually kind of refreshing to hear a pejorative in reference to the skins which isn't "deadskins". I mean, it isn't just a learned behavior because I know for a fact that these idiots think this term up independently, one of these jerkoffs turn trent william name into "Bent Williams" in a recent post so these seem to be following a formula.
I mean petebuilt10 is obviously a d'mbass (as are most cowboys fans...the cowboys seem to attract the stupidest retarded-jock-who-works-repairing-air conditioners-now sort of fan); this one is just barely literate and apparently has a computer in his outhouse because he posts here.

LOL when it rains it pours... ALL the trolls coming out of the wood work now. Now we have the ultimate Red antagonist this rupert fu_kface acting as my conscience.

Dude, I'm not up here to post body stats. This ain't eHarmony or whatever, so you need not to be concerned with my measurables. Yes, I called someone else 'immature'. It's an immature act when you're up here solely to start arguments then admitting to them. So shut your fu_king mouth!

The only thing getting older than my "tuff guy act" is you coming up here trying to fu_k with me about what I have to say to ANOTHER motherfu_ker. Why is it that you only have something to say at that time?

I think you're one of these trolls also, fu_kboy. Mind you damn business and stick modeling your pink leotard for your homo life partner, QuietTeeth.

On to another subject: is it just me, or does JR seem to be posting stories based around a single qoute that he got perhaps a month ago? Some of these stories seem so stale that I think he actually has a cache of stories he keeps as "filler" for when can't, or doesn't want to, get current redskins news.

I promised myself I wouldn't come on this DI board and mess with y'all today, but alas, I'm just a man.

Get all the Febreze, Lysol, and nose plugs you can find because it's going to absolutely foul on Deadskins Insider come Monday morning. The apologists will do their level best to make things better and kiss your aching boo-boos, bless their hearts, but the atmosphere will be rancid!

Q: Given the fact that it is a felony in most jurisdictions to commit violence on senior citizens, if Brooking or Ware de-cleats Joey Galloway on a crossing route, is either subject to imprisonment by the DC police department?

Ckinton was a big part of the problem the last two years. He undermined Zorn and Zorn did not get backed by Snyder and lost the team halfway through the first season. CP knows he cannot pull those sideline stunts with Shanny. Hopefully, his Diva attitude has shifted.

We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.

User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.